Step-bearing for separator-spindles.



PATENTB-D OCT. 1, 1907.

J. T. SHIBLD$. STEP BEARING FOR SEPARATOR SPINDLES.

APPLICATION FILED APEJ'L 1907.

w/ i'T/vEs .556.

VAFVgGH. l '40 Q MM/M A T To P/VE ms UNITED STATES 'r ns nnr OFFICE.

JAMES T. SHIELDS,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. E"

STEP-BEARING FOR SEPARATOB-SPINDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

Application filed lpril 2'? 1 907. Serial No. 370,644.

vent binding, thereby avoiding the necessity for accurstely fittingthe spindle its step hearing when constructing and assembling the parts.

Heretoiore ,it has been customary to cut the seat of the step bearing of a centrifugal separator spindle by means of a tool fitting in the place of the spindle while turn perfectly freely in its hearing. It is also desirable,

the stationary plug forming the stop bearing is in place 7 m the casing, so as to assure such bearing seat exactly fitting the end of the spindle when the spindle is in place. The driving gearing of a centrifugal separator is geared up to such a pitch that the least binding of the spindle would prevent the starting of the separator and for this reason it is necessary that the spindle should that the lower end of the spindle should not have a great amount of play in its hearing which would prevent steady running. With the stationary step bearing above referred to a certain muount of undesirable lateral play is necessarily provided for the lower end of the spindle in order to permit of the gyratory motion oi the spindle and to prevent the spindle binding in any position of the plug to which it might be turned for adjustment.

It is an object 02 this invention to provide s. step bearing for separator spindles which will be freely mot able and will accommodate itself to the position of the spindle at all times without permitting lateral play, the bearing receiving the end of the-spindle with a. working fit and assuring its steady running. 7

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thestep bearing for separator spindles herein claimed, its ports and combinations of parts and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the some parts in the several views; Figi m l is a sectional elevation of a separator spindle and its bearings, the step hearing being constructed in accordance with this invention; and, Fig. 2 is a z ictional detail view of the end oi the spindle, showing tL removable hardened bearing point.

In these drawings 5 represents the gear rose of a contrifugal separatorsnd 6 is the bottom oi the bowl chamher, being rigid parts of the frame construction in which the separator spindle 7 is mounted to freely turn and rotate the separator bowl 8 carried on its upper end. Though not shown, the spindle 7 carries a. worm on the portion thereofwithin the gear case 5 which is engaged by worm wheel. in said gear case forming a part of a train of gears by ens of which the spindle is rotated a1: a very high spot A hollow plug 8 is threaded in the bottom of the gear case 5 and may be adjusted vertically by turning it by means of the square wrench hold 9 on its end, therebeing a lock nut 10 thereon for binding it in its adjust t merits. Within the bore of the hollow plug 8 is slidhhly fitted a cup shaped hearing member 11, which is seated on a coil spring 12, with a ball 13 loosely con tained in its central gravity. 3

The reduced lower end of the spindle 7 has a conical bearing point 14 fitting in a flr'tringopening therein with a transverse intercepting opening 15 through which the, hollow plug 8 and fits within a concsved bearing surface 19 thereof. The-spherical portion of guide sleeve, 17 lit-s between the bushing and the bcztrinq member to form a ball mid socket joint with the bore of the bushing suiiiciently larger than the upper-neclr portion of the guide sleeve to permit the guide sleeve to tilt slightly in any direction. The bearing member being spring pressed serves to yicldobly clamp the guide sleeve in place. The guide sleeve 17 has an inwardly extending flange 20 at its lower end which permits the tapering lower end of bearing point 14 to freely pass but prevents the loss of ball l3 during shipment, when the spindle is removed from the hearing.

Near the upper end of the spindle, where the bowl is carried, is a yielding bearing for permitting the gyro.- tory movements of the spindle during the starting of the separator but tending to center the spindle and avoid the noisy vibmtion thereof. A flanged ring 21 is secured in en opening of the bowl casing 6 through which the spindle passes and so inwardly extending annular flange 22 thereof affords a stationary seat or hearing scrim-e for a. cup shaped thimblo illi beneath and a flhnged sleeve 24 above; The sleeve 24' loosely fits upon the spindle and has an outwardly extending goo flange resting dpon the upper surface of Ilunge22, tho

upon its bearing on the upper surface oi llnnge 22 ol the ring, the bore of the ring being sulliciently larger than the sleeve to permit thereof, and in any position of the spindle other than its central upright position the thimble23 is tilted to one side by the engagement therewith of the shoulders 26 and so causes a compression oi the ring 27 which tends to restore the thimble to its normally seated position and thereby return the spindle to its central upright position. Thus the gyratorymotions ,:of the spindle are permitted by the upper hearing, but with resistance, and. the spindle is given a tendency to return to its upright position so new re-' duce the gyratory motions (is much as possible and result in a smooth easy rumr ng of the separator without the pounding which results when the upper bearing 2 of the spindle is unyielding or when it is under no restraint.

'lhc utep benring permits 01' a change in position of the spindle without binding, notwithstanding the feet that the spindle has it working lit in its guide sleeve 17,

30 because of the ability oi the guidc sleeve to turmas a bull in n socket hearing and accommodate itself to the .-position of the spindle. The rotation oi the spindle is of course permitted with the least resistance by its lnztrillg on the ball iii which is confined in place to serve this purpose by llllllg located in the cavity of the cup shaped member ii. The clninge in position ol' the spherical guide sleeve IT is permitted without lateral plny thereof 21S it is e'onliued between the bushing 18 .nnd thespring pressed beitrinp member i l. the lendency of the latter being to clump the spherical portion oi the guide sleeve lit-(ween its llnring surface and the spherii-nl cavity of the bushing in shell a manner as to prevent side movement. but without interfering with the itilfltllzlhtliilllgt'fi in posillon thereof.

With this invention there is no necessity for the i'areiul nnu-hinc work required with slntionm' step bearings, wher the nxis ol the bore in which lhe spindie lits io'iist nceessnrily coincide with the nxir ol' the spindle during opcrnlioi', bet-nose oi the ndjusinbili y oi the guide sleeve which allows oi it proper lit in any position of the spiiulh. niul further the inulesiril lc side ploy ol' the spindle in its ln-nring is avoided entirely When the homing: lnlll ill and the hearing point [I have bet-nine \voru they only he quickly nod easily remote-d, the Former by inseriin tool in the opening lhniul lhelulirr h lurniugoul the bushing l5. These parts may then. be repho-cd and the device quickly restored to its operative mndilion without diiliculty.

Vl'hat lrl'aim 21 my invention is;

l. A step hearing for separator spindles. comprising at sleeve tilting tin end or the spindle und provided with n spherical portion. at easing having it hearing surfnce against whlvh the sphericui portion 01 the guide sleeve fits, a member sildiihly mounted in the casing and engaging the guide sleeve to hold it ngnlnst its henrlng. and n spring for pressing the member unnlust the guide sleeve.

Ll. A step hearing for scpilrntor spindles. comprising a guide sleeve iitthn; the end of the spindle and provided with 11 spherlcni portion. a casing. d bushing threaded in the end of the casing and having a beurinn sin-lore against whleh the spherical portion oi the guide sleeve tits, n member movnhly mounted in the cosine llll\'lli;: n conical recess receiving the spherionl portion of the guide sleeve, and n sprin eontnlnoi] within the Posing: and hearing on the memhl-r for forcing the member ngninst the guide sleeve to hold the guide sleeve against its hearing.

ii. A step bearing for sepnrntor spindles. comprising :1 guide sleeve tilting the end of lhe spindle Ililll provided with spherienl portion. on adjustable lhrenilcd cosine, it Join nul threaded on the raising. a l-nshiuiz threaded in the casing and provided with :l heal-in: snrlncc iljltllllfil. which the spherical portion 01' the guide sleeve tits, at nn-ml-er slidnhly mounted in the casing and having it conical recess recclvlng the spherleul portion ol the guide sleeve. and :i spring contained within the prising and henrlnn on the memhei' l'or holding it against the guide sleeve to force the guide sleeve against. its henrlng.

4. A step heurln for scpnraltor Spindles. eomprlsing: a.

guide sleeve lifting the end oi the spindle and provided with)! spherical portion. :1 easing lniviue n bozo-inn ngnlnst which the spherical port ion of the guide sleeve ills. n member slldnhle in the casing odopted to press the guide sleeve i'urulnsl the hearing. illlll n hull seated on sold member forming :i lltfll'llm tor the end of the spindle.

5. A step hearin for separator spindles. comprising n guide sleeve fitting the end of tho spindle and having a spherical portion. easing provided with o henring sur fare against which the spht'l'lvnl porihlll oi the guide sleeve fits, :1 bearing mcmher slldnhly mounted in the cuslng with n recess receiving the spherical port Ion of the guide sleeve. a spring: forcing; the bearing member ngnlnst the guide sleeve to hold the guide sir-ere uuninst its bearing. and n hull in the recess oi the heorln member on which the endot the spindle rests.

(l. A step bearing for separator spindles. comprisirn ii ruldc sleevr" llttlngthe end of the spindle and provided with n sphctleul poi-lion. cnslng imvln: n hearing ngninst which the spherical portion of the guide sleeve ills. a spring pressed hciu'ln member lillilllllly mounted in the raising and provided with n recess receiving the spherl portion of tin unidisleeve. a hull located in the rut of thc oenrlng member. and u t:|pe|-lu,- bearing point removnbly liiliuu in the end of the spindle and bearing on the hall.

7. step NllllilL: l'or scpurulor spindles. comprising n. guide sleeve titling the end of the spindle and provided with a spherical portion. n cnslng. n lnlsliiiu: threiided in the casing and provided with n bearing against which the sphcrlcnl portion oi tin guide sleeve tlts..n spring pressed benrlng member in the casing having it recess reeeivlhr; the spherirhl portion of the guide sleeve. and n boll lil'fllll'tl in the rcuess ofrho henrlm. member and formli 4i hearing for the end of the spindle. snld rnlde sleeve on; on inwardly extending flange of smaller lnterunl dinno-ler than the diameter or the hull. n. A step benrln r for seporn ior spindles. comprising n uide sleeve titling the end oi the spindle and provided with n phrrlcnl portion. on udjurltuble threaded rnsln conluinlng; n henrlng for the spherical portion of the guide filt'lvt permitting:- the guide siccvc to nccoi'mn'odnte ilselllo the posillon of the spindle, spring: means for wlioldine' the sphei'lrnl portion ngnlnst the bearing dill] ii join not thrended on the casing to lock It in its adjustments.

in testimony whereof. I ntilx my slgnntnrc. in presence of iwo vi'iilici-m-s.

JAMES '1. Sllll lLl lb.

Wilucuses A. ll. Mouse-1.1.. tluis, ll. Snow. 

